Program – old

Plenary session 1 will give an overview of the new National Strategy for Volunteering presented by the National Strategy Director. A panel made up of the Chair of the National Strategy for Volunteering Council and the Chairs of the Research, Volunteer Management, and Corporate Volunteering Working Groups will discuss the ambition of the National Strategy, the journey so far, and what happens next. The conversation will consider where we are now and how we get to where we want to be in 10 years’ time. Throughout the conference, there will be opportunities to dig deeper into the themes and ideas in the National Strategy. 

Plenary session 2 will address how volunteering needs to respond to climate change and the increasing frequency and severity of emergencies. It will span preparation, response and recovery and will examine areas including the importance of diverse voice, First Nations perspectives, health and wellbeing including the mental health of volunteers, coordination across organisations, targeted action plans, and the future of volunteering. 

Plenary session 3 will explore the breadth and diversity of volunteering and hear from different elements of the volunteering ecosystem. The discussion will focus on opportunities for, and examples of, cross-sector learning and collaboration. It will include a panel discussion with representatives from sport, care and support, emergency relief and informal volunteering. The conversation will build on the launch of the new National Strategy for Volunteering with panelists considering how their organisations and sectors can align with and support the implementation of the National Strategy. 

Plenary session 4 will offer a ‘big picture’ framing for Day two of the conference. We will hear from two leading international volunteer experts who will provide the global context. This will include highlighting how the future of volunteering is being discussed on the global stage, what are the big debates and trends, and how the new generation of young people are bringing fresh insights and perspectives on the future of volunteering.
 

Plenary session 5 will explore the future of volunteering in the wider context of reform in the charities and not-for-profit sector. We will hear from leaders from across the charities and not-for-profit sector, who will discuss the hard questions about what needs to happen for charities and their volunteer workforces to thrive.

Plenary session 6 will be run by the next generation of young volunteer researchers, managers, policymakers, and others. The panel will reflect on their insights from the conference and a facilitated discussion will cover some key questions that are vital to the future of volunteering.

The evidence & practice stream will bring together research and practice insights on cutting-edge volunteering topics.  

A1 & A2: Informal Volunteering Symposium 
A3: The Volunteering in Australia research – what’s next? 
A4: The evolution of sport volunteering – learning from evidence and practice 
A5: International volunteering lessons 

The inclusion, diversity & intersectionality stream will focus on a range of perspectives relating to inclusion, diversity and intersectionality and their implications for volunteering policy and practice in the future.   

B1: Harnessing the power of lived experience  
B2: Focus on LGBTQI+  
B3: Focus on First Nations  
B4: Focus on multicultural perspectives 
B5: Focus on settlement experiences  

The leadership & innovation stream will highlight innovation across various dimensions and provide insights into how different elements of the volunteering ecosystem are doing things differently and achieving impact.   

C1: Innovations in volunteer engagement 
C2: Innovations in corporate volunteering 
C3: Innovating with technology  
C4: Innovations in governance & strategy 
C5: Innovating for Impact 

The volunteering across the lifecycle stream will explore the role of volunteering at different stages of the lifecycle and how volunteers support and engage with different age groups.  

D1: Child safe volunteering   
D2: Youth volunteering  
D3: Student volunteering  
D4: Volunteering in health settings  
D5: Volunteering in aged care settings  

The volunteering across the nation stream will look at the breadth and diversity of volunteering across the Australian landscape.   

E1: Innovations across the nation 
E2: Focus on environmental volunteering 
E3: Focus on emergency volunteering 
E4: Regional & rural perspectives  
E5: TBC